More than a week after Hurricane Melissa devastated parts of Haiti, residents of Petit-Goâve are still grappling with the aftermath, trying to recover from both the loss of lives and widespread property damage.
The southwestern coastal town was particularly hard-hit, with over 160 homes damaged and 80 completely destroyed. Among the 20 people who lost their lives, half were children. Many families were trapped when the La Dique River overflowed during the night of October 29, sending mud and debris rushing through the town and burying homes.
James Creve-Coeur, a local resident, described the devastation as he worked to dry and clean his damaged home, pointing to the window he had to escape through during the landslide. “Everything we had is gone our business, our bank accounts, our animals, our clothes, our beds,” he said.
Though the La Dique River has largely receded, streets remain wet and muddy, complicating recovery efforts. Aid agencies report that reaching Petit-Goâve remains challenging, as gangs have blocked roads and set up checkpoints between Port-au-Prince and the town. Transporting people and essential supplies now requires boat trips that can take more than seven hours.
In the meantime, local residents are banding together, offering shelter and sharing resources. Some apartments now host multiple displaced families, reflecting a strong sense of community support amid the ongoing crisis.
